"It's not too often in the vast wasteland of up-and-coming metal bands that flood our ears that you find a band that stands out. But, such a rare occurrence strikes with Black Asylum" - metalasfuck.net
Self-promotion is not something that comes naturally to Aussie metal outfit, Black Asylum. Not because they’re not worthy of it, or because they lack conviction. In fact, quite the opposite is true. What keeps these guys so grounded is a part of what also makes them so great – they’re devoid of the tired bullshit that comes with so many bands in music today, metal or otherwise. Black Asylum doesn’t care about trends. It doesn’t want to be bad-ass, or terrifying, or any other cliche that followers of some scenes have come to expect. All the band wants to do – all they were made to do – is play good, hard-hitting music, and that’s exactly what they deliver.
Black Asylum is Dawesy (Guitar), Steve Lake (Bass), Danny Hewling (Drums) and Troy Harris (Vocals). For 10 years, the four have knocked-around the very intimate metal scene of the New South Wales Central Coast in Australia, at different times jamming with one another, but mostly jamming with other people. Despite their close proximity, shared admiration for each other’s musical talents, and expressed desire to join forces, it took a lot of time and more than a fair amount of torment for the current manifestation of this musical beast to be birthed.
But, as they say, nothing worthwhile is easy, and in spite of their struggles the end result for Black Asylum has definitely been worthwhile. Having had time to evolve the intricacies of their music, they now have a clear direction both in sound and in attitude. In short, Black Asylum has evolved into a driving force for creative, head straight metal. Lyrically, the band explores a gamut of diverse views surrounding the human experience, tapping into a shared consciousness that makes them highly accessible, relevant and more than anything, very real. Musically, they thrive on incorporating traditionally heavy ideas on the one hand, while breaking through stale musical stereotypes on the other. They deliver intelligence without pretension, and an innate understanding that the music and its performance should be an inspired and creatively brutal live experience.
To date, the band’s CV includes an impressive list of support slots for some of the greats of international metal including HellYeah and Cannibal Corpse. In 2008, they released their debut album TRUTHS OF THE BLOOD to critical acclaim, DB Magazine claiming, “this is as good as modern metal gets". In 2009, the band released the follow-up EP, ANTHEM OF ORDER, again to the praises of fans and critics alike, providing another “fine example of Aussie metal done right" (pyromusic.net). Then in 2010 the band won the Music Oz award for the Best Metal/Hardcore act in Australia; an accolade that has served to add even more fuel the inferno that drives them… like they needed it.
But this is just the Black Asylum beginning. Having already cemented a loyal following, the promise of a tour in early 2011 and a new album shortly after is sure to see the band’s fan base grow, and quickly, both within the metal community and beyond. From here, there is only one direction for Black Asylum: straight ahead at full throttle. And with such strength and precision commanding them forward, they’re sure to annihilate their mark, and anyone who gets in their way.
